Hearth's Warming Eve with Friends
Twilight checked over her list as she looked over the extensive piece of parchment, to make she had it. It was her third time checking it, you know. It was almost six in the morning, the Sun rising with its magnificent radiance, and the Moon's glow disappearing over the last hill of Ponyville. It was a nice morning indeed.
Spike laid there in his small bed, snoozing away, most likely dreaming of 'Sir Spike and Princess Rarity' adventures, where he defeated the evil Discord. It was all expected from a dragon such as him. He turned, snuggling deeper into his silky pillow and baby blue blanket.
All was nice for them, especially since every foal would go to sleep early for Santa Hooves, leaving a plate of warm cookies and milk for the jolly pony. Ah, yes, the day today, was Hearth's Warming Eve, and every pony was sleeping in, to ready themselves for one of the greatest times of the year!
"Everything is perfect! The tree is outside, we have everything to bake some goodies, and everypony is coming over in almost five hours! I think it would be okay if I took a nap... Can't be tired for today!" Twilight hummed, trotting off to her bed that was calling her, for her to rest and dream of the day coming soon!
Once she finally reached her bed, she closed her tired eyes, snuggled closer to the mattress, and dreamed wonderful dreams! Of course, this is only the beginning to today's activities.
Once Twilight woke up, she looked at the Sun. It looked only at eight in the morning, since the ponies were setting up shop, readying to sell their fine wares. Only one stall wasn't opened, and that was Applejack's. Twilight smiled, as only two more hours until fun began, and it would be a most glorious time!
As she finished looking out the window, she went to wake Spike up, but to notice he wasn't there. "Must be making breakfast." Twilight thought. She slowly stepped down the stairs, trying to wake herself up completely, to smell an aroma of pancakes, coffee, and freshly sliced apples. She raced to the table, earning a chuckle from Spike.
"So did you sleep well?" Spike questioned. Twilight yawned cutely, and nodded her head yes, plucking an apple slice from the bowl with her magic. Spike took the pan that held one pancake and flipped it to make the pancake fall on top of five others. He grabbed the plate and set both the syrup and pancakes down on the center of the table.
Twilight took the spatula and placed two pancakes for Spike and three for her, drizzling the maple syrup across the plate and cut some butter to give Spike his plate and set down her's in front of herself. As they chewed their food in silence, once in awhile talking about the upcoming festivities, they ate.
After finishing their food, eating every single bite, they cleaned the dishes and put them up. This took an hour, and both Twilight and Spike knew what to do next.
They grabbed he cleaning supplies and started to clean. Both smiling, giddy for the time they would spend with friends, they started to clean.
There was little to clean, but they organized, replaced books, and more boring tasks. It was almost time for the gang to come, and they sat down and chatted.
"So, Twilight. What are we going to do first?" Spike asked.
"Well, I figured we could place the tree up, then start decorating. That way, we could place the presents down. Then, we could start baking, and lastly just sit and relax, talk about things, and maybe sing some carols. Seem like a good idea?" Twilight relayed the plan, questioning him at the end.
Spike just nodded eagerly, and stopped to turn at the door to hear a knock. Twilight and Spike both got up to greet the pony at the door, and seen Fluttershy when they opened it.
"Hi Fluttershy! Come in!" Twilight greeted with lots of enthusiasm. Fluttershy trotted in, grinning as she did so.
"Hi Twilight, Spike. Oh! Here's the gift for everypony." Fluttershy pulled out a small gift, wrapped in blue wrapping paper, topped with a pastel pink bow. Spike took both the saddle bag and the present, rushing to the basement, to place them there for when they would be needed again.
"Thanks! Come sit down, we're going to wait for the others, but they should come-" Twilight was interrupted by another knock on the door, startling her. Spike ran to get it, to see four more mares standing there. He waved them in, as they trotted inside.
"Hey! Where do you want us to put our stuff, Twilight?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"Just give it to me! I'll take care of it!" Spike answered, holding his claws up for the belongings. They gave him their stuff, earning a thanks from each of them, for him to stumble back down with the gifts and saddle bags, to place them with Fluttershy's things.
"Well, we can get started now on our first thing to do!" Twilight told everypony. They all beamed with excitement, most coming from Pinkie Pie with her bouncing up and down with glee.
"Rainbow Dash, Applejack, can you go get the tree outside? There is a yellow ribbon tied onto one of it's branches! You can't miss it!" Twilight ordered with politeness. They nodded, galloping out the door. When they came back, they were pulling in the medium sized tree with ease, as Rarity, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy gasped in awe at the great tree.
"Now lets get to work!" Twilight commanded, pointing at everypony. That made them cheer with happiness, as they pulled the plant into an upright-position.
Fluttershy and Rarity pulled out the ornaments, Pinkie Pie and Twilight twirled the garland and tinsel on, while AJ and Rainbow added the lights to the tree. They worked together, helping one another with happiness, laughing, telling jokes, and just having a nice time!
This continued for awhile, finishing with Spike putting the tree topper on, and the ponies placing presents below the branches. They paused for a moment or two as the glanced at their work, entertained with the masterpiece in front of them.
"Ooh! Ooh!" Pinkie Pie clamored, raising her hoof. "Yes, Pinkie?" Applejack asked.
"Can we add cotton candy to it? Or how about cake? No, popcorn!" Pinkie Pie listed off various food items, with Rarity getting a popcorn string with her magic, wrapping it around the tree.
"Like that, Darling?" Rarity asked. Pinkie Pie stared at it with a happy grin plastered on her face. Everypony was finally, totally pleased with it now.
Pinkie Pie reached into her mane, and started munching on some cookies. Rainbow Dash and Twilight, looked at her with confused faces, wondering how that was possible, until Twilight gasped in astonishment.
"What?!" Rarity yelped, wondering what was going on. Now it was everypony looking confused at Twilight, except for Pinkie, who was still happily eating her cookies.
"We need to start baking, for the dinner tonight!" Twilight exclaimed, each nodding in agreement. So they all got to work.
As they harvested the ingredients from the kitchen, they got to work on the new splendid holiday meal. Applejack and Pinkie Pie went for the dessert portion, Rarity teaching Rainbow Dash how to make appetizers, and Fluttershy paired with Twilight on the main course.
They took hours of time, with Spike helping whoever, but it ended up a disaster... of yummy food piled upon dishes. The appetizers consisted of salad, mashed potatoes, and some stuffing of bread and vegetables. The main course was made of a huge pot of soup, and bread slices to dip in it. With Pinkie Pie and Applejack unveiling a magnificent cake, with a few pies. To drink, they had coffee, milk, and homemade apple cider.
After the feast, they all sat down on pillows, set by the fireplace. They had faces of content. Each of them happy, they decided to chat.
"That was a really great meal!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed, patting her stomach.
"Sure was! You and Applejack did a great job on the cake! Same with the pies!" Rainbow Dash laughed.
"Well, you an' Rarity did a good job on the salad!" Applejack complimented.
"My heavens, the soup Twilight and Fluttershy made was excellent!" Rarity remarked, smiling at the great taste of their past meal.
"Well, Fluttershy was the one with the recipe!" Twilight pointed at Fluttershy.
Fluttershy blushed and smiled. "You made the bread. I might want the recipe for that. Um... If you don't mind, of course." Fluttershy commented, hiding behind her mane from her shy demeanor. Everypony nodded in agreement, with an added 'Uh-huh!" Everypony was happy, and listened to the cackling of the fire. It made them content, as silence dominated the room.
That was, until Spike chimed in. "The fire of friendship lives in our hearts..." Spike ended.
Rarity piped up then two, singing, "As long as it burns we cannot drift apart!"
Next, Twilight and Applejack came in. "Though quarrels arise, their numbers are few."
With Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash coming in, it harmonized with harmony! "Laughter and singing will see us through, we are a circle of pony friends circle of friends we'll be to the very end!" They all sang, until they laughed. They caroled through the night, falling asleep until midnight.
This ends our story, with our favorite bunch of ponies. As we end this story with happiness, Happy Hearth's Warming Eve!